Among the crowd, a silhouette made its way toward the stage and dropped a heavy pouch filled with silver and Gold. Such wealth, only an Alpha could command. Who was this man?

With a deep and commanding voice that cut through the murmurs like a sharp steel blade, he said:

"I'll take the one they call Laura".

Traders hesitated. Called her worthless, some even called her cursed.

"Might be worthless to you, but she's mine!!",

 With a swift motion, he lifted Laura effortlessly, as if she weighed nothing.

---

They got into the car and sped off. They disappeared into the shadows. Laura was weak. But hopeful that the man who bought her won't be so hard on her. She had suffered enough, and even though she felt she was meant to suffer for life, she just wanted some time to recuperate.

The Alpha's voice brought Laura out of her thoughts.

  "You're wondering who I am. I am Damian Blake-alpha of the Bloodmoon pack. I am Your Master. And you will serve me for the rest of your life."

Damian Blake? Alpha of Bloodmoon? No, this was falling from frying pan to fire. Oh, Moon Goddess, what have I done to make you hate me so much?

---

   Bloodmoon pack and Silvermoon have never seen eye to eye. They're rivals. I've heard rumors about Alpha Damian. They say he is Cold and Calculating. A force to be reckoned with. His presence alone commands respect and demands fear.

 Even though Laura was half-conscious, her mind was still razor-sharp. She knew the Alpha didn't buy her to be a toy, but as something more. But what?

---

"You're weak. And a runt from the Silvermoon pack. I hate your pack. You will serve me as my maid. You will have to earn your place. I will give you a few days to come around, but once you do, you will start serving me with immediate effect. Do you understand?"

I swallowed hard, fear mixing with a strange hope. I nodded my head quickly as I didn't want to get on his bad side.

---

   After a few hours, we arrived at Blackmoon Pack. It was modern. Everything looked clean and expensive. We got to the Pack house.

As the Alpha stepped out of the car, I immediately followed behind.

 "She'll be watched."

He said to the broad-shouldered Beta wolf with eyes like steel. He nodded.

 The Beta's mate glanced at me with a measured look, then said to me in a commanding tone:

"You'll learn to respect us all... or suffer the consequences."

I was shown a room where I would stay till I got better. The pack doctor came to check on me and prescribed medicine. The Alpha didn't joke about my health. At first, I thought it was out of kindness, but then I remembered that I was to serve him and he wouldn't want to waste his money.

 I stayed in the room for 1week plus before I came out. I heard the maids talking that the Alpha was on a business trip and would be back by the end of next week.

---

   Drawn by the scent of freshly-baked bread and the need for normalcy, Laura ventured into the pack kitchen one morning, though she remains wary.

She meets Mara, the head cook. A no-nonsense, but warm-hearted woman who reminds her of the mother figure she longed for. Mara doesn't question her. She hands her a loaf of freshly baked bread and teases her to grow more flesh. She smiles. She likes her.

Laura also meets two lovely omegas, Gina and Lina, who see her scars but don't flinch. They share stories with Laura as they do their chores, helping her regain a sense of belonging.

   As they say, not everyone will be welcoming.

Brielle is a sharp-tongued blonde with high status among the unmated she-wolves. She makes Laura her new target. With the Alpha away, there won't be any reason not to play with a cursed stray.

 Blonde hair twisted into a ponytail, flawless skin, and a voice that could cut through glass. She leaned against the doorway, blocking Laura. Her sharp blue eyes scanned Laura as if she were a pile of dirt.

"Well, if it isn't our little luna reject," she purred.

"Blackmoon must be running a charity now."

Gina and Lina flinched at her tone.

But remained silent. They couldn't say anything. They were omegas.

Lips tight. Laura straightened up. She said nothing.

Brielle stepped closer and lowered her voice.

  "Reject. Don't get too comfortable. Just because the Alpha paid for you doesn't mean you're part of this pack. You're nothing but temporary. Runt."

She pushed her out of the way and laughed as she walked away.

Feeling defeated, Laura ran to her room. Tears in her eyes. Memories of Silvermoon's betrayal clamped like iron shackles on her. She kept her voice softer and raised her walls higher.

The next day, the kitchen staff offered her kind words. But she politely and quietly left them behind.

---

 After Brielle's taunts and vicious reminders that she is still seen as a curse even in the Blackmoon pack, Laura folds. Her shell hardens. She speaks less. She tells herself to forget about peace, not to even hope for it.

     Refusing to fall apart, she tends to her wounds and forces her healing, quietly volunteering for chores no one wants. She keeps to the corners of the pack house. Unnoticed. Unseen.

Seeking solace, she decides to take a walk in the gardens, where she finds a small girl sitting alone by a wilted flowerbed.

     Her wide silver eyes look up at Laura, alert and broken with an ancient look a child shouldn't have. Looking up at Laura with a haunting familiarity.

Words didn't need to be said-two broken souls discarded by those meant to protect them, recognizing each other in silence.

After a silent conversation, the girl stood up and ran away, as if she had just seen a ghost.

"Who was that child?"

Laura thought aloud.

---

A week had passed after she met the little girl.

Laura's scars began to fade. Leaving yellowish and purple marks. Though the physical wounds were healing, the emotional wounds were mending very slowly.

  Thanks to her new friends, Gina and Lina, she walked straighter, spoke out now, and did her chores with quiet efficiency.

Vast. That would be the perfect word to describe the pack house. Laura learned the pack house wasn't this big. It was rebuilt by Alpha Damian 2 years after he took over from the previous Alpha. They talked about how rich and handsome he was. Even though Laura was healing, she couldn't even deny the fact that the Alpha was handsome. But cold.

The pack house was filled with rooms she hadn't explored yet. Lucky for her, she was assigned to cleaning the rooms upstairs, Tall doors and dust that wrapped around the air like a blanket.

An old wooden door was slightly open.

She pushed the door open and gasped. Books. A lot of them. Hundreds of them. From the floor to the ceiling shelves. The air was filled with the scent of ink and old parchment paper. Leather gives a warm feeling.

She heard sounds

She traced them. Then she saw her. The girl from the gardens. She looked closely and noticed she was trying to read the words, but all that came out were weird sounds.

   The child was curled in a corner, a massive book open between her legs. The child noticed Laura, and her silver eyes flickered, assessing her. She wasn't scared.

  Hesitantly, Laura walked up to her, knelt beside her, leaving a respectful space between them enough not to startle her. She told the child.

"I didn't expect to see you here."

Silence. Silver eyes stared at Laura.

 The girl closed the book slowly and tilted her head, oddlan y old soul. Laura noted.

Laura glanced at the book"Tale of Moon-born Wolves".

  "I loved that book, especially the one about the wolf who talked to the stars," Laura whispered.

The girl blinked.

Laura smiled," I always felt it was unfair that the stars only answered when she was alone..as if they didn't want anyone to know they cared."

Still no response. But the girls' gaze softened.

"You know, when I was your age, I tried talking to the stars, but I only received a scolding and a sore throat."She quietly laughed.

The girl smiled the tiniest smile.

It encouraged Laura.

"And once I thought I could live in the stables forever, I stole a loaf of bread and hid there. I forgot to bring water, so I ended up drinking horse water. I smelled like hay for a week."

The girl giggled. A soft laugh that made her face light up, and Laura's heart swelled.

"Much better," she added," you look even more beautiful when you laugh. Like the stars might talk to you."

The girl pulled a small, carefully preserved flower from her pocket and gave it to Laura.

  "For me?"

The girl nodded once and showed Laura a picture of a silent guardian wolf protecting a little cub.

"I'll look out for you, too." The girl didn't speak but scooted closer to Laura and rested her head against Laura's shoulders.

The two souls found comfort in each other. They stayed silent until it was interrupted by a loud bang and a growl.

"HOW DARE YOU!!"

"How dare you!!"

Alpha Damian Said as he slammed the doors of the library.

  He stood at the doorway his towering presence sucked the warmth away. His cold silver orbs locked on Laura.

"You dare touch her?"His voice thundered as he grabbed Laura's arm in a tight grip. His grip was so strong his nails scratched her.

Laura's heart stopped.

  She slowly said:" I came to clean.She was alone so I thought to keep her company"

"I don't care what your reason is. You are not to touch her. She is not to be approached by anyone."

He grabbed Laura's arm and pulled her closer,she winced.

" I have been very lenient with you, but you will know your place now."

---

 With immediate effect Laura was escorted to the mining area. Her first punishment was to join the miner's to work till the next day without food or water and if caught slacking... she should be flogged.

   Laura drove the pickaxe into the hard earth.Lifting the axe was so much work for her but she managed she knew she was supposed to be doing her chores. But she neglected them and chose to comfort the mute girl.

  Close to evening she felt a sharp pain in her ribs. They tightened with every swing. Sweat soaked her clothes and seeped into her

re-opening wounds. She remembered the little girl hiding behind the shelf when the Alpha came in. She just prays the child is safe.

A thought came to Laura's mind: Why was the Alpha so angry that she was with the child? Who is the little girl?

By nightfall, she was dragged by the Beta's mate Lira,back to the estate.

"I told you to learn respect... but you didn't listen. Now you will face the Alpha's wrath."

I tried to ignore her words but I couldn't shake off the feelings that things were being blown out of proportion.

  They arrived at the estate and Laura was sent to Damian's study. Immediately she walked in she noticed the room smelt like him. Dark chocolate with a hint of fresh fruit. She was so lost in his addicting scent.

She snap out of her reverie when the Alpha said:

  "No rest" Damian said coldly tossing the papers on his desk to the floor. "Organize the entire study, clean the floors every corner of it."

She tried to protest"But I-"

"Silence"he growled"you earned this"

Hours past. Scrubbing, dusting and sorting. Midway sorting the documents Laura collapsed beside the Alpha's desk. He hands trembled, blood spilled from her nose, her knees buckled.

She didn't get up.

---

Damian was on the phone when he finished his conversation on the balcony. The sound of shuffling feet drew the Alpha's attention.

   Damian noticed the little girl in his study with tear stained cheeks as she stared at the other end of his desk. He couldn't see what she was looking at so he went round and saw that Laura was knocked out cold.

   The little girl knelt beside Laura's crumpled body and began signing furiously

You hurt her!

She was kind!

This was all your fault!

She didn't know!

   Damian stood frozen in shock.

That language.Those hands. He recognized those hand signs.

"...Hope," he whispered shocked

The little girl turned to him silver orbs brimmed with tears.

   Through the commotion Laura started regaining consciousness slowly. Everything seemed hazy.

She blinks through the haze. Barely registering the words.

Hope?

So her name is Hope? What a nice name Laura. thought fondly.

  Laura's looked between the Alpha and Hope. The resemblance was clear. How didn't she notice it before.

 It hit her hard.

"She... she's your daughter?"

Damian couldn't answer

 Because it was true.

Laura had now touched the one person The Alpha vowed not to loose again.

---

The soft morning sun rays, casted a golden warmth across flower field beyond the pack house compound.

  Laura knelt down with Hope beside her with a half made crown of daises in her lap. Hope stood up giggling while chasing a butterfly, her hands fluttering with excitement.

  A shadow watched from a distance with so much rage. It was only a matter of time before he made himself known.

It's been days since the scene in Alpha Damian's study. Laura was relieved of her punishment she went back to her routine cleaning, healing, chores and the new thing playing with Hope.

 Laura threaded another flower in the crown

"You'd be a better luna than me" she said pacing the crown on Hope's head.

Hope smiled then touched her chest and made a sign for "friend"

"Yes.Always" Laura said smiling back at Hope.

Like shattered glass their peace was destroyed.

"Get away from her."

Damian's voice destroyed the warmth they shared with his coldness. Standing at the edge of the field the only thing producing warmth was the fire in his eyes.

Laura stood up slowly, preparing herself for a scolding. Instinctively she placed Hope behind her.

"She is just a child"

"You seem to forget yourself, your place here. You don't speak to her. You don't touch her. You serve. That's why you were bought. Your a slave. Nothing more".

His words hurt Laura hard.

  Bitterness rising in Laura. She questioned the Alpha"I serve? Is that how you see me? A name on a ledger or a tool to break?"

Damian clenched his jaw. A vein pulsing at his temple.

"Playing nursemaid to Hope won't earn you status. You will never rise your blood, girl. You. Are.A.Property."

Laura's eyes welled with unsheathed tears.

She took a step closer to the Alpha.

"Then where is her mother? Where is the Luna? Or did you loose her too just like your loosing your soul?"

Those words hit Damian harder than Laura expected.

Damian visibly flinched.

Something dark passed his gaze. Pain. Grief. A wound. Reopened.

"Don't, don't speak of things you now nothing about."

Laura didn't heed to the warning. She continued to probe him further.

"Maybe your anger towards me is as a result of your failure. You failed to protect your luna. You failed to protect the mother of your child".

In a swift flash, Laura was off the floor. The Alpha gripped her tunic not hard enough to hurt.But enough to silence her.

   His voice trembling with barely caged fury. He spoke.

"You speak of her again and I will make sure you regret drawing breath on the day of your creation."

Laura wanted him to speak. To express the agony buried deep beneath that dominance. The ghost of a lost love.

Hope tugged Damian's coat with tear filled eyes. Signing for him to stop that's she didn't mean it.

With Restrained violence his chest rose and fell. He set Laura down and left without a word.

---

     Hope ran up to Laura and hugged her tightly, her face buried in her stomach. Laura knelt down holding her close.

Laura thought aloud" she was someone important. someone he couldn't forget"

  Hope nodded. Laura knew she had struck a nerve. One deep enough to bleed.

But in that pain...

Was the beginning of truth.

---

 After the heated confrontation with Alpha Damian, Laura took Hope inside. The conversation echoed in her mind like thunder.

She did mean to speak of his past, but the words came out before she could stop them. It was a result of the bitterness that rose in her.

I should have kept my mouth shut. She though sadly as she walked down the hallway with Hope. Brushing her fingers along the wall looking for some sort of grounding. Not now I'll do it in the morning. The fire is still too hot.

She'd apologize when the air wasn't too full of tension and regret.

Hopes small fingers tugged her hand. The mute daughter of Alpha Damian blinked at her smiling.

"Little star, come on let's go back to your room" Laura said to Hope.

Turning to climb the stairs leading to the second floor where Hope's room was. Laura spotted a familiar figure standing by the stairs. It was Mira the head cook. She stood there willing her hands on her flour dusted apron.

"We'll who do we have here." Mira said eyes sharp but tone warm." Come Laura, I have something to discuss with you. It won't take long."

Laura looked down at Hope and asked

"Will it be alright?"

Hope gave an exasperated sigh and nodded. Point towards the kitchen. Cupcake first.

"A bribe huh?" Laura chuckled at Hope who had a sly grin on her face.

"Smart girl." Mira said laughing out as well.

The kitchen was warm, the lightening was wonderful. She handed Hope the cupcake after generously swirling some frosting on it, before guiding Laura to a stool where she also sat. Hope say down at the old oak table, locking the frosting with a satisfied expression on her face.

"In the fields. I saw what happened." Mira said quietly but her tone was serious." Not many have stood up to Alpha Damian like that. Not ever."

Laura stiffened.

"It was brave believe me." Mira continued "but don't make it a habit. The first time might be forgiven as passion but the second time won't be seen as same."

"I didn't mean to say those words to him... I will apologize, I just... I'll wait till the tomorrow morning."

Laura said with her throat tightening.

Mira nodded approvingly, glad that she admitted her mistake and was ready to apologize for it.

  "Wise. But be careful. There are things-people-we don't talk about in this pack. Hopes mother...she's one of them and we do it out of respect. For our Alpha. For the wounds he never talked about."

Laura's eyes softened"I'm sorry. I understand now. I didn't know."

"You do now." Mira said" And it means something.

After cleaning up Hopes sticky hands.Laura led her back to her room. The child despite her silence was a bind of joy and mystery. When they reached the room, Hope ran to look for something. She rummaged through the box and pulled out glitter, plastic brushes and a pallet of face paint. Bright ones.

Laura raised her brows slightly.

Laura asked "you wanna play make over?"

Hope nodded eagerly.

Minutes passed in wild clothes and laughter. Laura's sitting on the rug legs crossed, her face painted with wild uneven stripes of pink, purple and blue, her cheeks dusted with glitter.

Hope beamed with delight as she pushed Laura to the mirror.

"Oh Moon Goddess. Hope. I look like a clown."

Laura laughed out loud.

Hope laughed soundlessly filled with joy as her small shoulders shook. Her smile was genuine and bright. Her eyes filled with nothing but pure happiness.

Neither of them noticed the figure in the hallway.Alpha Damian watched from a distance through the dim lights his expression was unreadable.

His eyes locked on Laura, then moved to his daughter. He was surprised she never laughed like that-not since the silence began. Something twisted in his chest. His jaw clenched.

He did not like it.

He didn't like it one bit. Not the closeness. Not the familiarity. And most especially not the easy Hope looked at Laura. Like she was something safe.